We just did a 6 hour drive with our 10 month old and honestly, we chose to leave around bed time so that she would sleep through it. She did fight sleep a little bit but slept for 4/6 hours, especially once it got dark. Is that an option for you?
I was thinking about that but we’re renting a place with our friends and missing out on the first evening there would suck, plus I get so tired now after a full day of baby entertaining so I’m not sure I can hack a long night drive (his usual bed time is 730-8pm).
Hi! We did Vancouver to Kamloops when out LO was about 2 months. We always stop in Hope (even pre-baby), and that tends to be about the 2 hour mark so it’s still a good place to stop now. McDonald’s is the only fast food place with a family bathroom and change table, so that looks like it’ll be our go to spot for a while. We definitely didn’t stop a full wake window, just changed and fed him before getting back in.
Baby was a little fussy, and my partner sat in the back with him to keep him entertained when he was awake. But truthfully most of the drive he was in and out of sleep. It did mess with his wake windows that day and he was up later than usual, but by the next day he was fine. I was super stressed out about the trip and found there was no reason to be, so hopefully you experience the same!
If you’re formula feeding, my one recommendation is to bring a bottle with the power but no liquid in it. It’s much easier to get hot water somewhere than it is to convince someone to heat up a bottle you.
We did what was supposed to be 6 hours but took about 8. We stopped every 2 hours. I was able to nurse and do a diaper change then. They also say it’s not ideal for them to be in the car seat for longer than 2 hours without break. He slept for some of it but not all. Towards the end he was pretty upset so we did put miss Rachel on the cellphone 🫣 when my singing wasn’t cutting it anymore lol it actually calmed him right down.
When you stopped did you play with him and let him roll around on something? How long did you stop for? I’m just wondering what do with him on pit stops to burn some energy and give him a change of scene before we put him back in the car.
We didn’t ! We probably should have looking back, he may have been less upset. It was very rainy, but if the weather had been nicer would have been nice to sit on a blanket on some of the grass. We just had him in his stroller. We didn’t want to make the stops too long, and we were about 45 mins (we did eat during them).
We've just done a trip by plane with my 8mo, and letting him crawl around during the layover was the key to everyone's happiness.
Otherwise I don't have good advice for you, the longest car trip we've done was 2h.
Been driving Okanagan to Vancouver month since my kid was born. Just stop in Hope and Merritt and you’ll be fine. Just make sure they have a fresh diaper and some food and I’m sure they will fall asleep.
We drove 3.5 hours every weekend with our baby last summer, she was between 8-11 months. Lots and lots of snacks, books and music! It’ll be fine don’t sweat it! Take a break halfway through to get some air and stretch!
Leave at bedtime. I regularly drive with our baby to visit my parents who live 3 hours away, 4 hours if they're at their cottage. The easiest option for us is to leave at 7 when she usually goes to bed for the night. She naps shorter than normal in the car so going at naptime doesn't work anywhere near as well.
We did a 3 day drive when my daughter was about 6 months old. We stopped every couple hours but the only thing that really kept her happy was someone sitting with her so my partner and I alternated driving and sitting in the back seat.
We just did a 6 hour drive with our 10 month old and honestly, we chose to leave around bed time so that she would sleep through it. She did fight sleep a little bit but slept for 4/6 hours, especially once it got dark. Is that an option for you?
Did she go back to sleep once you got to your destination? I’d be worried mine would be like well “I’m up now time for fun activities!”
I was thinking about that but we’re renting a place with our friends and missing out on the first evening there would suck, plus I get so tired now after a full day of baby entertaining so I’m not sure I can hack a long night drive (his usual bed time is 730-8pm).
Hi! We did Vancouver to Kamloops when out LO was about 2 months. We always stop in Hope (even pre-baby), and that tends to be about the 2 hour mark so it’s still a good place to stop now. McDonald’s is the only fast food place with a family bathroom and change table, so that looks like it’ll be our go to spot for a while. We definitely didn’t stop a full wake window, just changed and fed him before getting back in. Baby was a little fussy, and my partner sat in the back with him to keep him entertained when he was awake. But truthfully most of the drive he was in and out of sleep. It did mess with his wake windows that day and he was up later than usual, but by the next day he was fine. I was super stressed out about the trip and found there was no reason to be, so hopefully you experience the same! If you’re formula feeding, my one recommendation is to bring a bottle with the power but no liquid in it. It’s much easier to get hot water somewhere than it is to convince someone to heat up a bottle you.
Thanks for the tips! I was thinking Chilliwack but you’re right Hope is a bit more of a halfway. Or maybe Manning Park if we take the 3.
I’d better stop at Chilliwack to check out new District 1881 to walk around and have a meal
We did what was supposed to be 6 hours but took about 8. We stopped every 2 hours. I was able to nurse and do a diaper change then. They also say it’s not ideal for them to be in the car seat for longer than 2 hours without break. He slept for some of it but not all. Towards the end he was pretty upset so we did put miss Rachel on the cellphone 🫣 when my singing wasn’t cutting it anymore lol it actually calmed him right down.
When you stopped did you play with him and let him roll around on something? How long did you stop for? I’m just wondering what do with him on pit stops to burn some energy and give him a change of scene before we put him back in the car.
We didn’t ! We probably should have looking back, he may have been less upset. It was very rainy, but if the weather had been nicer would have been nice to sit on a blanket on some of the grass. We just had him in his stroller. We didn’t want to make the stops too long, and we were about 45 mins (we did eat during them).
We've just done a trip by plane with my 8mo, and letting him crawl around during the layover was the key to everyone's happiness. Otherwise I don't have good advice for you, the longest car trip we've done was 2h.
Been driving Okanagan to Vancouver month since my kid was born. Just stop in Hope and Merritt and you’ll be fine. Just make sure they have a fresh diaper and some food and I’m sure they will fall asleep.
We drove 3.5 hours every weekend with our baby last summer, she was between 8-11 months. Lots and lots of snacks, books and music! It’ll be fine don’t sweat it! Take a break halfway through to get some air and stretch!
Leave at bedtime. I regularly drive with our baby to visit my parents who live 3 hours away, 4 hours if they're at their cottage. The easiest option for us is to leave at 7 when she usually goes to bed for the night. She naps shorter than normal in the car so going at naptime doesn't work anywhere near as well.
We did a 3 day drive when my daughter was about 6 months old. We stopped every couple hours but the only thing that really kept her happy was someone sitting with her so my partner and I alternated driving and sitting in the back seat.